Improvement in brick-kilns



W. S. COLWELL. BRICKLKILN.

Patented July 2.5, 18116.Y

NFETERS. PHOTO LIYHOQRAPH WILLIAM S. GOLWELL, OF PITTSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-KILNS.

Specin'cation formingr part of Letters Patent No. 180,113, dated'Jnly25, 1876 application filed May 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. CoLWELL, ofPittsburg, ill the county ot' Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Brick-Kilns; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference heilig had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

My invention rela-tes 'to an improvement in kilns for burning brick, andconsists in providing each end ofthe lirearch with an adjustabledamperordoor, Wherebytheheat in the several parts of thekiln can becontrolled With ease and' To enable others skilled in the art to makeand use my invention, I willv proceed to describe its construction andoperation.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of my specication, Figurel is a perspective view of my improvement in brickkilns. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same at line y in Fig.1. Y

A represents the kiln, which is of ordinary construction, excepting thatits fire-arches B are furnished with dampers C, which have theirchambers in Aabutments D. ments impart strengthA to the side Walls ofthe kiln, andby the use of the dampers the operator can control the heatin all parts of the furnace. The dampers are constructed of lire-tile,and are furnished with notched stems c. 0n the side Walls of the kilnare secured projecting ribs j', constructed of iron. These ribs are usedin connection with the notched 'rods or stems e for holding the dampersup in the desired position. g represents sections of the grate-barsordinarily used in fire-arches. In the process of burning brick in theordinary kiln, it is impossible to secure a uniform degree of heat inall parts of it, and therefore it is impossible to properly burn thebrick, and consequently a great loss of fuel, labor,and brick followsthe use of such kiln,-and the common mode of burning the brick therein.By furnishing each end ofthe fire-arches of the kiln with dampers, asindicated at C, the operator is enabled to control the tire in theseveral fire-arches B so as to secure a uniform degree of heat in allparts vfore employed for that purpose.` A use of the dampers G at eachend of the fireofthe kiln by the proper manipulation of the dampers C.

In the process of burning brick in the ordinary kiln it is often thecase that the brick in that part of it directly over the fire-arches B2and B3 are vsubjected to a great degree of heat, while those over thearches B1 and B4 are subjected to a low degree of heat. At other timesthe greatest heat is at one side, 4or at one end or one corner of thekiln, which condition of things is due to the heat taking the lead tosaid parts; and it often requires a great amount ot' labor, judgment,and skill on the part of the operator, and a large amount of fuel, tochange this lead of the heat and direct it to other parts ol' the kilnmost needing it, and it is almost impossible for him to distribute theheat uniformly through all parts of it by the'means hereto- But by thearches, the operator can, at his pleasure, and with -ease and facility,increase or diminish the heat in any part of the kiln, or distribute ituniformly through all partsof it. For eX- am ple, if the heat isgreatest at one side of the kiln, the dampers are closed down on thatside and raised up on the other side of it, and thereby lire across thekiln 5 or, if the heatis greatest at one--end of the kiln, the d ampersare closed down at that end, and the dampers of the arch at the otherend raised so as to cause a blow77 in that end only. If the heat in onecorner of the kiln is low, and it is desirable to increase it there, thedampers are all lowered except that corner.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood how tomanipulate the dam pers so as to increase or diminish the heat in anypart of the kiln, or distribute itevenly, .through all parts of it,whereby the brick may in the .process of burning them be subjected to auniform degree of heat, and thereby produce better'v brick, and at lesscostfor fuel and labor.

I am aware that the mouths of tire-arches of kilns have been providedwith doors, gates, Ste., as may be seen in the patents to J. F.

Speight, July 4, 1854, and to R. A. Smith, November 19, 1872; and I donot, (therefore,`

claim the device specified, broadly, but in con firefarohes of the kiln,substantially as `and tradistinution to thepatents quoted. A for thepurpose hereinbefore described and I claim as of my inventionset forth.In an ordinary brick-kiln, in which the burning of the brick isconducted from the arches, I Witnesses:

the abutment D, provided with the adjustable' FRANCIS TORRANGE,

dampers U, in cornbinationwvith the Walls and N. B. HATCH.

W. S. COLWELL.

